← Table of contents Tao Te Ching illustration
知者不言,
Zhī zhě bù yán,
Those who know do not speak.
言者不知。
Yán zhě bù zhī.
Those who speak do not know.
塞其兑,
Sāi qí duì,
Seal your openings,
闭其门,
Bì qí mén,
Close your door,
挫其锐,
Cuò qí ruì,
Dull your sharpness,
解其纷,
Jiě qí fēn,
Untangle your knots,
和其光,
Hé qí guāng,
Diminish your brightness,
同其尘,
Tóng qí chén,
Identify with the dust.
是谓玄同。
Shì wèi xuán tóng.
This is called profound unity.
故不可得而亲,
Gù bù kě dé ér qīn,
Then, you are beyond affection,
不可得而疏;
Bù kě dé ér shū;
Beyond estrangement;
不可得而利,
Bù kě dé ér lì,
Beyond profit,
不可得而害;
Bù kě dé ér hài;
Beyond harm;
不可得而贵,
Bù kě dé ér guì,
Beyond honor,
不可得而贱。
Bù kě dé ér jiàn.
Beyond disgrace.
故为天下贵。
Gù wéi tiān xià guì.
Thus, you are valued by all under heaven.